Somerset farm near A303 to be sold to fund front-line services

Lawrence Farm is located on Moor Lane south of the dual carriageway on the edge of Wincanton

A large Somerset farm near the A303 is to be sold by the council to help finance front-line services throughout the county. Lawrence Farm is located on Moor Lane south of the dual carriageway on the edge of Wincanton, consisting of a farmhouse, associated outbuildings and 75 acres (just over 30 hectares) of land.

Somerset Council agreed in November 2023 to review its existing county farms as part of a broader assessment of its assets, land and property, with a view to disposing of those deemed surplus to requirements and channelling the proceeds into essential services.

The farm will now be marketed in four separate lots – though the council has not disclosed any public estimate of the anticipated sale value.

The farmhouse at Lawrence Farm has stood empty since March, following the council’s negotiations with the former tenant to relinquish their tenancy.

The farm buildings and surrounding land are presently managed under a separate six-month tenancy arrangement, which is due to expire at the end of September.

The farm is flanked by Brains Farm to the east, a solar farm to the south and Wessex Water’s waste water treatment plant to the west, with the River Cale running through a considerable portion of the land.

The farm will be marketed in four distinct lots, with an uplift clause in place to ensure the council benefits from any increase in value should the land subsequently be developed.

David Ashton, one of the council’s property officers, said in his written report: “Our estates team has halted submitting a planning application to convert the farm buildings for residential use, due to flood risk issues that have arisen and the associated lengthy delay and risk of refusal.

“The asset will be disposed of via the open market, in various lots, with the appropriate covenants and/or uplift in place.”

Under ordinary circumstances, revenue generated from the sale of land, property or other assets – known as capital receipts – cannot be directed towards day-to-day expenditure on front-line services.

However, the council was granted approval in February by central government – for the third consecutive year – to use proceeds from asset sales for this purpose, as well as to finance its ongoing transformation programme.

The council has declined to disclose the anticipated proceeds from the farm sale, citing commercial sensitivity.